Sessions

DAY 1 · TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

08:00 – 08:30

Registration & Coffee Service

08:30 – 08:50

Opening Ceremony

Velvet Piini, Jodi Stiles, Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau, Elaine Jennings

National Anthem by Velvet Piini. Welcome by Jodi Stiles. Opening Remarks by Vice Admiral Ann E. Rondeau. Workshop Ove...

08:50 – 10:00

Public Service and Leadership, A Fireside Conversation

The Hon. Leon Panetta, Evy Poumpouras

The Honorable Leon Panetta, moderated by Evy Poumpouras, Former Special Agent, USSS.

10:00 – 10:20

10:20 – 11:40

Hiding in Plain Sight: How Chinese Manufacturing and Cartel Logistics Converge at America's Vape Counters

Ray Guidetti, Giacomo Sacca

Presentation by Ray Guidetti and Giacomo Sacca.

11:40 – 13:00

NPS on Campus Dining Options

13:00 – 14:15

Fireside Chat on AI and Future Trends

Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez, Jacob Andra

Rodrigo Nieto-Gomez, CHDS Faculty and Jacob Andra, CEO Talbot West.

14:15 – 14:35

Afternoon Break

14:35 – 16:00

Panel: Legal Considerations of Federalizing the National Guard

Kevin McMahan, Joseph Nunn, Lisel Petis

Panel discussion with Kevin McMahan, Joseph Nunn, and Lisel Petis.

16:00 – 16:00

17:30 – 20:00

Evening Event at the Black Horse/Bayonet Golf Club, 1 McClure Way, Seaside, CA. All alumni and guests, speakers, facu...

Black Horse Golf Club — Directions

DAY 2 · WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18

08:00 – 08:30

08:30 – 08:45

Welcome & Day 2 Overview

08:45 – 10:15

Next Gen Homeland Security: Great Power Competition in 2026

Seth Jones, Kieran Ramsey, Chris Kuhn, Rita Martess

Panel with Seth Jones, Kieran Ramsey, Chris Kuhn, and Rita Martess.

10:15 – 10:35

10:35 – 11:45

A New Framework for Inquiry

Presentation by Vern Pierson, District Attorney, El Dorado County.

11:45 – 13:00

NPS on Campus Dining Options

13:00 – 14:15

The National Security Strategy – Considerations for Practitioners

Dan O'Connor, Paul Rasmussen, Keith Carter

Moderated by Dan O'Connor, CISO, FEMA. With Paul Rasmussen and Keith Carter from the Institute for Regional and Inter...

14:15 – 14:35

Afternoon Break

14:35 – 15:00

What We Are Learning in the Classroom

Shannon Brown, Cynthia Renaud, Lauren Fernandez

Lauren Fernandez, Shannon Brown, and Cynthia Renaud.

15:00 – 16:00

Unmanned Aerial Systems in Homeland Security: Lessons from Global Conflict to Domestic Response

Lauren Fernandez, Aleksandar Matovski, Tony Robinson, Ava Fanucchi

Lauren Fernandez, Aleksandar Matovski, Tony Robinson, and Ava Fanucci.

16:00 – 16:00

DAY 3 · THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19

08:30 – 08:45

Welcome & Day 3 Overview

Rosemary McDonnell, Elaine Jennings

Rosemary McDonnell. Presentation of CHDSA Christopher Bellavita Educator Award. Presentation of the CHDS Alumni Servi...

08:45 – 10:00

The Future of Emergency Management

Justin Kates, Emily Pelliccia, Emily Martuscello

Justin Kates, Senior Business Continuity Advisor at Wawa, Inc. Emily Pelliccia, Deputy Chief of Emergency Management,...

10:00 – 10:20

10:20 – 11:45

After the Call: Creating Your Next Identity

Chris Hsiung, Undersheriff San Mateo and Co-founder of The Curve.

11:25 – 11:45

Alumni Updates and CHDSLive!

Jodi Stiles, Heather Hollingsworth, Morgan James

11:45 – 13:00

13:00 – 14:15

Policy and Strategy Considerations for Growing Demand in NSSE Events

Clint Osborn, Director, HSEMA.

14:15 – 14:35

Afternoon Break

14:35 – 16:00

Cyber Border Security: Defining and Defending a National Cyber Border

Phillip Osborn, DHS-HSI Supervisory Special Agent (Ret.).

16:00 – 16:00